Early Impressions of Mario Hezonja at 2015 NBA Summer League

Heading into NBA Summer League, nobody was a bigger must-watch rookie than Mario Hezonja. Despite having played fewer than 16 minutes per game in each of his last two seasons with Barcelona, the Orlando Magic rolled the dice on Hezonja at No. 5 overall—before Willie Cauley-Stein, Emmanuel Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, Frank Kaminsky and Justise Winslow.

The Magic ultimately took him based on sporadic flashes of brilliance and the upside that's tied to his 6'8" size, spectacular athleticism and dangerous shooting stroke. 

Hezonja only played in two summer league games, but that was enough to get a feel for his progress and how he stacks up to the competition. It was also enough time for Hezonja to confirm the predraft hype as legit.

We saw his monster potential come to life on a number of plays in Orlando. But the up-and-down tempo exposed a few of his well-documented weaknesses as well. 

Offense 

Hezonja scored 12 points against the Los Angeles Clippers and 14 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, though those totals came on a combined 9-of-24 shooting (37.5 percent) from the floor.

Still, Hezonja's made field goals should have outweighed the misses. He showcased impressive versatility consisting of deep three-point range, difficult shot-making ability and above-the-rim finishing explosiveness. 

Hezonja made arguably the top play in summer league off a drive he completed by throwing down a thunderous dunk over his man. It highlighted his effortless hops and terrific coordination:

Though Hezonja didn't show off much creativity with his handle, he did attack a number of open lanes and get to the basket. He has a quick first step and tough size to contain when going up.

But just like in Europe, most of Hezonja's shots came from the perimeter. Fourteen of his 24 field-goal attempts were threes. And though he only made four of them, his mechanics and stroke suggest shooting consistency won't be hard to achieve in the long run. 

He works both as a standstill spot-up threat and a shooter off screens and movement. 

And there was never any doubting his confidence. Hezonja stepped up in his debut to knock down the game-winning triple against the Clippers:

One of Hezonja's buckets came on a tough baseline fadeaway. But he also attempted and missed a few other low-percentage looks in the mid-range, and it's that shot selection that's gotten him in trouble over the years.

Hezonja can struggle to create good looks against a set half-court defense, which we witnessed in Orlando. His biggest challenge as a rookie will be finding ways to score within the Magic offense. 

He also produced mixed results as a passer. Hezonja demonstrated great vision on a few occasions and questionable decision-making on others (four turnovers against the Clippers). He missed a few reads with the ball in playmaking position as well. 

But given his style of play and the adjustment that comes with moving from overseas to the U.S., the hiccups and inefficiency were to be expected. 

Defense 

Hezonja's defensive ability was fairly evident in Orlando. When isolated, he did a nice job of keeping his assignment in front of him, thanks to excellent lateral foot speed for a player his size. 

A few times, he forced his man into settling for bad shots. 

Hezonja also hit the floor for a pair of loose balls, and for the most part, he seemed locked in at the defensive end. 

"He doesn't back down from physical play," Magic assistant coach Monte Mathis told NBA.com's Fran Blinebury. "He'll dive on the floor. He'll do all those hard-nosed things."

He did, however, get beat and caught out of position on a handful of possessions. Hezonja is bound to make his fair share of silly gambles and mistakes this upcoming season, but we'll also see his natural talent translate to highlight-reel plays and strong on-ball coverage.

I'm not sure we ultimately learned anything new about Hezonja through two summer league games. There isn't a shot in the book he can't make, while his physical tools and electric burst drive his ceiling through the roof. 

You'd like to think his shooting accuracy and ball skills will only get sharper as he continues to get more reps, considering how few he's received compared to most prospects his age. And though Tobias Harris will be back to claim his starting spot in the rotation, a small-ball lineup could create extra minutes for Hezonja at the 3, according to the Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins:

"

And, now, it seems likely [Aaron] Gordon and Tobias Harris will be asked to play more at power forward than they played last season, especially if the team wants to play at a faster pace off opponents' missed baskets. Having Gordon or Harris play more at power forward also would give Evan Fournier and Hezonja more opportunities for playing time.

"

Overall, Hezonja made a positive impression in summer league, looking like he belonged on an NBA floor. You got the idea he could give the Magic minutes and immediate offense in spurts, while still showing tremendous room for growth. Being able to eventually convert those spurts into steady production is what will take Hezonja's game to a whole new level. 

Next season, expect up-and-down numbers and eye-opening plays from Hezonja, as well as the mental errors and some shaky judgement.